A39669:2052
The Method of Grace
The method of grace, in bringing home the eternal redemption contrived by the Father, and accomplished by the Son through the effectual application of the spirit unto God's elect, being the second part of Gospel redemption : wherein the great mystery of our union and communion with Christ is opened and applied, unbelievers invited, false pretenders convicted, every mans claim to Christ examined, and the misery of Christless persons discovered and bewailed / by John Flavell ...The method of grace, in bringing home the eternal redemption contrived by the Father, and accomplished by the Son through the effectual application of the spirit unto God's elect, being the second part of Gospel redemption : wherein the great mysterie of our union and communion with Christ is opened and applied, unbelievers invited, false pretenders convicted, every mans claim to Christ examined, and the misery of Christless persons discovered and bewailed / by John Flavell ...
London: printed by M. White for Francis Tyton, 1681
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
First, Consider, whether this be not the ground of your 1fear and doubting, because you are fain to take pains in the way of meditation, prayer, and other duties to bring your hearts to sense and savour the things of God: whereas, it may be you expect your spiritual enlargements and comforts should flow in upon you spontaneously, and drop from heaven immediately of their own accord; without any pains or industry of yours: here may be, (and probably is) a great mistake in this matter; for the spirit of God works in the natural method, wherein affections use to be raised; and makes use of such duties as meditation and prayer as instruments to do that work by, Ezech. 36. 37. So▪ David was forced to reason with, and chide his own heart: Psal. 42. 5. thy comfort and enlargement may nevertheless be the fruit of the spirit, because God makes it spring up, and grow upon thy duties.
- 1Sol.
Secondly, Take this as a sure rule, whatsoever rises from self always aims at and terminates in self: this stream cannot be carried higher than the fountain, if therefore thy aim and end in striving for affections and enlargements in duty, be only to win applause from men, and appear to be what in reality thou art not, this indeed is the fruit of nature, ⟨p. 422⟩and a very corrupt and hypocritical nature too; but if thy heart be not melted, or desire to be melted in the sense of the evil of sin in order to the farther mortification of it; and under the apprehensions of the free grace and mercy of God in the pardon of sin, in order to the engaging of thy soul more firmly to him: if these or such like be thy ends and designs, or be promoted and furthered by thine enlargements and spiritual comforts, never reject them as the mere fruits of nature; a carnal root cannot bring forth such fruits as these.